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Ankle sprain

Distorsio articulationis talocruralis · Podvrtnutí kotníku

What it is

Rolling the foot inwards tears the ligaments on the outside of the ankle — the commonest sports injury.

Symptoms & signs

  • Pain and swelling on the outer ankle
  • bruising
  • pain on walking
  • feeling of giving way
  • repeated sprains with a weak ankle

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Foot bent out of shape, cold, pale or numb
  • see a doctor soon Can't take 4 steps right after the injury or at the clinic
  • see a doctor soon Bone tender at the back of either ankle knob
  • see a doctor soon Calf swelling or pain in the days after

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Ottawa rules to decide on an X-ray
  • early weight-bearing with a brace rather than a cast
  • NSAIDs or paracetamol
  • balance and strengthening physiotherapy
  • surgery only for chronic instability

Natural & lifestyle

  • Ice and elevation for the first days
  • balance-board training to prevent re-injury
  • lace-up brace for sport

Emerging & experimental

  • Platelet-rich plasma injections
  • internal-brace ligament augmentation

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Arnica gel — trials disagree; widely used mixed evidence
  • Comfrey ointment — trials positive, mostly paid for by the maker mixed evidence
  • Bromelain (pineapple enzyme) — small trials on swelling early / small studies
  • Kinesio taping — trials against sham tape show little or no benefit not confirmed in trials

ICD codes